Page 100 of Holding Grace

“Was that you?” I interrupted him as he went to speak again. “In Bluelake Springs? Did you go looking for me?”

“Me? No.” Seth shook his head but didn’t quite meet my eyes. “Ellis didn’t trust me to go.”

I didn’t quite believe him but again, it didn’t matter now.

“Keep going,” Michael rumbled, wanting to get this over and done with as much as I did, I was sure.

“He hired some guy to grab you here. I didn’t know about it until it went sideways. Then he reamed me about it like it was my fault.”

That was Ellis, blaming everyone and everything but himself.

“Where did he get the money?” Seth squinted at Michael like he didn’t understand the question. “You said he hired someone. Where did he get the money?”

Seth shrugged. “Don’t know. He’s got some guy who visits him a lot and there’s a guy, Peters, he used to race with who lives around here now so maybe one of them gave it to him.”

That lined up with what Detective Chase told us.

“He was pissed about that already, but when he found out you two got married, I guess he completely lost his shit. Started screaming and yelling, went after a couple guards, just went nuts.”

“How do you know all this? Were you there?” Hadn’t Detective Chase told us the other man – Stokes – was there when Ellis had his meltdown?

“No, I saw Peters and he told me. And he told me something else.”

Seth stilled and I knew this was it. Whatever else Peters had told him, this was his reason for coming to find me.

Under the table, I slipped my hand into Michael’s and clasped it tightly. “What’s that?”

“Ellis is trying to hire a hitman.”

I would’ve been less shocked if Seth had reached across the table and punched me. Michael sat rigid beside me.

“Hire a...” my voice was nearly a squeak... “hire someone to kill me?”

“No.” Seth shook his head.

I’d just about drawn in a relieved breath, thankful I’d somehow misunderstood, when he shocked me even more.

“Not you.” He nodded at Michael. “Him. He’s taking out a hit on him.”

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